Descriptive epidemiology of vestibular schwannomas.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Descriptive population-based registry study without an unexposed comparator group
PubMed 16443943 · doi:10.1215/S1522851704001097
What was done
Researchers analyzed population-based cancer registry data from 11 Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS) state registries and the Los Angeles County Cancer Surveillance Program (LACCSP) from 1975 to 1998. They tabulated average annual incidence rates for primary nerve sheath tumors of the brain/CNS and vestibular schwannomas, age-adjusted to the year 2000 U.S. standard population. Multiplicative Poisson regression and joinpoint regression were used to assess trends across age, gender, race, year, and region.
What was found
The overall incidence of primary brain/CNS nerve sheath tumors was 1.1 per 100,000 person-years in both CBTRUS (1995–1999) and LACCSP (1995–1998). Vestibular schwannoma incidence was 0.6 per 100,000 person-years in CBTRUS (1995–1999) and 0.8 per 100,000 person-years in LACCSP (1995–1998). Incidence for primary nerve sheath tumors overall and for vestibular schwannomas increased over time (CBTRUS 1992–1999, LACCSP 1992–1998), whereas benign schwannomas at other sites decreased (CBTRUS) or showed no significant change (LACCSP).
Why it matters
This study provides population-level baseline incidence rates and secular trends for vestibular schwannomas in the United States, showing an increasing incidence during the 1990s.
Limits
The total number of cases ($n$) is not reported in the abstract. Observed increases over time may reflect confounding from improvements in diagnostic imaging sensitivity and registry reporting practices rather than true etiologic shifts.
Cited by
- supports An acoustic or vestibular neuroma is a non-malignant tumor on the vestibular branch of the auditory nerve.